desperate remedies-第48章

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rector　suggested　that　it　would　be　worth　while　to　direct　a　message　to
'all　the　respectable　hotels　in　Southampton；'　on　the　chance　of　its
finding　them；　and　thus　saving　a　deal　of　personal　labour　to　Owen　in
searching　about　the　place。

'I'll　go　and　telegraph；　whilst　you　return　to　the　man；'　said　Edward
an　offer　which　was　accepted。　　Graye　and　the　rector　then　turned　off
in　the　direction　of　the　porter's　cottage。

Edward；　to　despatch　the　message　at　once；　hurriedly　followed　the　road
towards　the　station；　still　restlessly　thinking。　　All　Owen's
proceedings　were　based　on　the　assumption；　natural　under　the
circumstances；　of　Manston's　good　faith；　and　that　he　would　readily
acquiesce　in　any　arrangement　which　should　clear　up　the　mystery。
'But；'　thought　Edward；　'supposeand　Heaven　forgive　me；　I　cannot
help　supposing　itthat　Manston　is　not　that　honourable　man；　what
will　a　young　and　inexperienced　fellow　like　Owen　do？　　Will　he　not　be
hoodwinked　by　some　specious　story　or　another；　framed　to　last　till
Manston　gets　tired　of　poor　Cytherea？　　And　then　the　disclosure　of　the
truth　will　ruin　and　blacken　both　their　futures　irremediably。'

However；　he　proceeded　to　execute　his　commission。　　This　he　put　in　the
form　of　a　simple　request　from　Owen　to　Manston；　that　Manston　would
come　to　the　Southampton　platform；　and　wait　for　Owen's　arrival；　as　he
valued　his　reputation。　　The　message　was　directed　as　the　rector　had
suggested；　Edward　guaranteeing　to　the　clerk　who　sent　it　off　that
every　expense　connected　with　the　search　would　be　paid。

No　sooner　had　the　telegram　been　despatched　than　his　heart　sank
within　him　at　the　want　of　foresight　shown　in　sending　it。　　Had
Manston；　all　the　time；　a　knowledge　that　his　first　wife　lived；　the
telegram　would　be　a　forewarning　which　might　enable　him　to　defeat
Owen　still　more　signally。

Whilst　the　machine　was　still　giving　off　its　multitudinous　series　of
raps；　Edward　heard　a　powerful　rush　under　the　shed　outside；　followed
by　a　long　sonorous　creak。　　It　was　a　train　of　some　sort；　stealing
softly　into　the　station；　and　it　was　an　up…train。　　There　was　the　ring
of　a　bell。　　It　was　certainly　a　passenger　train。

Yet　the　booking…office　window　was　closed。

'Ho；　ho；　John；　seventeen　minutes　after　time　and　only　three　stations
up　the　line。　　The　incline　again？'　　The　voice　was　the
stationmaster's；　and　the　reply　seemed　to　come　from　the　guard。

'Yes；　the　other　side　of　the　cutting。　　The　thaw　has　made　it　all　in　a
perfect　cloud　of　fog；　and　the　rails　are　as　slippery　as　glass。　　We
had　to　bring　them　through　the　cutting　at　twice。'

'Anybody　else　for　the　four…forty…five　express？'　the　voice　continued。
The　few　passengers；　having　crossed　over　to　the　other　side　long
before　this　time；　had　taken　their　places　at　once。

A　conviction　suddenly　broke　in　upon　Edward's　mind；　then　a　wish
overwhelmed　him。　　The　convictionas　startling　as　it　was　suddenwas
that　Manston　was　a　villain；　who　at　some　earlier　time　had　discovered
that　his　wife　lived；　and　had　bribed　her　to　keep　out　of　sight；　that
he　might　possess　Cytherea。　　The　wish　wasto　proceed　at　once　by　this
very　train　that　was　starting；　find　Manston　before　he　would　expect
from　the　words　of　the　telegram　（if　he　got　it）　that　anybody　from
Carriford　could　be　with　himcharge　him　boldly　with　the　crime；　and
trust　to　his　consequent　confusion　（if　he　were　guilty）　for　a　solution
of　the　extraordinary　riddle；　and　the　release　of　Cytherea！

The　ticket…office　had　been　locked　up　at　the　expiration　of　the　time
at　which　the　train　was　due。　　Rushing　out　as　the　guard　blew　his
whistle；　Edward　opened　the　door　of　a　carriage　and　leapt　in。　　The
train　moved　along；　and　he　was　soon　out　of　sight。

Springrove　had　long　since　passed　that　peculiar　line　which　lies
across　the　course　of　falling　in　loveif；　indeed；　it　may　not　be
called　the　initial　itself　of　the　complete　passiona　longing　to
cherish；　when　the　woman　is　shifted　in　a　man's　mind　from　the　region
of　mere　admiration　to　the　region　of　warm　fellowship。　　At　this
assumption　of　her　nature；　she　changes　to　him　in　tone；　hue；　and
expression。　　All　about　the　loved　one　that　said　'She'　before；　says
'We'　now。　　Eyes　that　were　to　be　subdued　become　eyes　to　be　feared
for：　　a　brain　that　was　to　be　probed　by　cynicism　becomes　a　brain　that
is　to　be　tenderly　assisted；　feet　that　were　to　be　tested　in　the　dance
become　feet　that　are　not　to　be　distressed；　the　once…criticized
accent；　manner；　and　dress；　become　the　clients　of　a　special　pleader。

6。　　FIVE　TO　EIGHT　O'CLOCK　P。M。

Now　that　he　was　fairly　on　the　track；　and　had　begun　to　cool　down；
Edward　remembered　that　he　had　nothing　to　showno　legal　authority
whatever　to　question　Manston　or　interfere　between　him　and　Cytherea
as　husband　and　wife。　　He　now　saw　the　wisdom　of　the　rector　in
obtaining　a　signed　confession　from　the　porter。　　The　document　would
not　be　a　death…bed　confessionperhaps　not　worth　anything　legally
but　it　would　be　held　by　Owen；　and　he　alone；　as　Cytherea's　natural
guardian；　could　separate　them　on　the　mere　ground　of　an　unproved
probability；　or　what　might　perhaps　be　called　the　hallucination　of　an
idiot。　　Edward　himself；　however；　was　as　firmly　convinced　as　the
rector　had　been　of　the　truth　of　the　man's　story；　and　paced　backward
and　forward　the　solitary　compartment　as　the　train　wound　through　the
dark　heathery　plains；　the　mazy　woods；　and　moaning　coppices；　as
resolved　as　ever　to　pounce　on　Manston；　and　charge　him　with　the　crime
during　the　critical　interval　between　the　reception　of　the　telegram
and　the　hour　at　which　Owen's　train　would　arrivetrusting　to
circumstances　for　what　he　should　say　and　do　afterwards；　but　making
up　his　mind　to　be　a　ready　second　to　Owen　in　any　emergency　that　might
arise。

At　thirty…three　minutes　past　seven　he　stood　on　the　platform　of　the
station　at　Southamptona　clear　hour　before　the　train　containing
Owen　could　possibly　arrive。

Making　a　few　inquiries　here；　but　too　impatient　to　pursue　his
investigation　carefully　and　inductively；　he　went　into　the　town。

At　the　expiration　of　another　half…hour　he　had　visited　seven　hotels
and　inns；　large　and　small；　asking　the　same　questions　at　each；　and
always　receiving　the　same　replynobody　of　that　name；　or　answering
to　that　description；　had　been　there。　　A　boy　from　the　telegraph…
office　had　called；　asking　for　the　same　persons；　if　they　recollected
rightly。

He　reflected　awhile；　struck　again　by　a　painful　thought　that　they
might　possibly　have　decided　to　cross　the　Channel　by　the　night…boat。
Then　he　hastened　off　to　another　quarter　of　the　town　to　pursue　his
inquiries　among　hotels　of　the　more　old…fashioned　and　quiet　class。
His　stained　and　weary　appearance　obtained　for　him　but　a　modicum　of
civility；　wherever　he　went；　which　made　his　task　yet　more　difficult。
He　called　at　three　several　houses　in　this　neighbourhood；　with　the
same　result　as　before。　　He　entered　the　door　of　the　fourth　house
whilst　the　clock　of　the　nearest　church　was　striking　eight。

'Have　a　tall　gentleman　named　Manston；　and　a　young　wife　arrived　here
this　evening？'　he　asked　again；　in　words　which　had　grown　odd　to　his
ears　from　very　familiarity。

'A　new…married　couple；　did　you　say？'

'They　are；　though　I　didn't　say　so。'

'They　have　taken　a　sitting…room　and　bedroom；　number　thirteen。'

'Are　they　indoors？'

'I　don't　know。　　Eliza！'

'Yes；　m'm。'

'See　if　number　thirteen　is　inthat　gentleman　and　his　wife。'

'Yes；　m'm。'

'Has　any　telegram　come　for　them？'　said　Edward；　when　the　maid　had
gone　on　her　errand。

'Nonothing　that　I　know　of。'

'Somebody　did　come　and　ask　if　a　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Masters；　or　some　such
name；　were　here　this　evening；'　said　another　voice　from　the　back　of
the　bar…parlour。

'And　did　they　get　the　message？'

'Of　course　they　did　notthey　were　not　herethey　didn't　come　till
half…an…hour　after　that。　　The　man　who　made　inquiries　left　no
message。　　I　told　them　when　they　came　that　they；　or　a　name　something
like　theirs；　had　been　asked　for；　but　they　didn't　seem　to　understand
why　it　should　be；　and　so　the　matter　dropped。'

The　chambermaid　came　back。　　'The　gentleman　is　not　in；　but　the　lady
is。　　Who　shall　I　say？'

'Nobody；'　said　Edward。　　For　it　now　became　necessary　to　reflect　upon
his　method　of　proceeding。　　His　object　in　finding　their　whereabouts
apart　from　the　wish　to　assist　Owenhad　been　to　see　Manston；　ask　him
flatly　for　an　explanation；　and　confirm　the　request　of　the　message　in
the　presence　of　Cythereaso　as　to　prevent　the　possibility　of　the
steward's　palming　off　a　story　upon　Cytherea；　or　eluding　her　brother
when　he　came。　　But　here　were　two　important　modifications　of　the
expected　condition　of　affairs。　　The　telegram　had　not　been　received；
and　Cytherea　was　in　the　house　alone。

He　hesitated　as　to　the　propriety　of　intruding　upon　her　in　Manston's
absence。　　Besides；　the　women　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　would　see
himhis　intrusion　would　seem　oddand　Manston　might　return　at　any
moment。　　He　certainly　might　call；　and　wait　for　Manston　with　the
accusation　upon　his　tongue；　as　he　had　intended。　　But　it　was　a
doubtful　course。　　That　idea　had　been　based　upon　the　assumption　that
Cytherea　was　not　married。　　If　the　first　wife　were　really　dead　after
alland　he　felt　sick　at　the　thoughtCytherea　as　the　steward's　wife
might　in　after…yearsperhaps；　at　oncebe　subjected　to　indignity
and　cruelty　on　account　of　an　old　lover's　interference　now。

Yes；　perhaps　the　announcement　would　come　most　properly　and　safely
for　her　from　her　brother　Owen；　the　time　of　whose　arrival　had　almost
expired。

But；　on　turning　round；　he　saw　that　the　staircase　and　passage　were
quite　deserted。　　He　and　his　errand　had　as　completely　died　from　the
minds　of　the　attendants　as　if　they　had　never　been。　　There　was
absolutely　nothing　between　him　and　Cytherea's　presence。　　Reason　was
powerless　now；　he　must　see　herright　or　wrong；　fair　or　unfair　to
Manstonoffensive　to　her　brother　or　no。　　His　lips　must　be　the　first
to　tell　the　alarming　story　to　her。　　Who　loved　her　as　he！　　He　went
back　lightly　through　the　hall；　up　the　stairs；　two　at　a　time；　and
followed　the　corridor　till　he　came　to　the　door　numbered　thirteen。

He　knocked　softly：　　nobody　answered。

There　was　no　time　to　lose　if　he　would　speak　to　Cytherea　before
Manston　came。　　He　turned　the　handle　of　the　door　and　looked　in。　　The
lamp　on　the　table　burned　low；　and　showed　writing　materials　open
beside　it；　the　chief　light　came　from　the　fire；　the　direct　rays　of
which　were　obscured　by　a　sweet　familiar　outline　of　head　and
shouldersstill　as　precious　to　him　as　ever。

7。　　A　QUARTER…PAST　EIGHT　O'CLOCK　P。M。

There　is　an　attitudeapproximatively　called　pensivein　which　the
soul　of　a　human　being；　and　especially　of　a　woman；　dominates
outwardly　and　expresses　its　presence　so　strongly；　that　the
intangible　essence　seems　more　apparent　than　the　body　itself。　　This
was　Cytherea's　expression　now。　　What　old　days　and　sunny　eves　at
Budmouth　Bay　was　she　picturing？　　Her　reverie　had　caused　her　not　to
notice　his　knock。

'Cytherea！'　he　said　softly。

She　let　drop　her　hand；　and　turned　her　head；　evidently　thinking　that
her　visitor　could　be　no　other　than　Manston；　yet　puzzled　at　the
voice。

There　was　no　preface　on　Springrove's　tongue；　he　forgot　his　position…
…hersthat　he　had　come　to　ask　quietly　if　Manston　had　other　proofs
of　being　a　widowereverythingand　jumped　to　a　conclusion。

'You　are　not　his　wife；